Miner s knife



(No Model.)

W. A. CHAPMAN.

MINBRS KNIFE. No. 594,984. Patented Deo.7,1897.

E., g) Z3 Z lllllll" 3 Nr'rnn Arnwr einen.

MINERS KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,984, dated December '7, 1897. Application filed April 13, 1897. Serial No. 631,884. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALBERT CHAP- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yellville, in the county of Marion and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miners Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to miners knives; and it consists, primarily, of a knife proper, a fuse-cutter, a cap-crimper, and a cap-seater combined in one device.

The invention further consists of the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combined device of the character set forth wherein the parts are simple and effective in their construction and operation and will facilitate the arrangement and crimping of a cap for blasting and other purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knife embodying the invention and shown closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation Yof the improved knife, showing a portion thereof raised for operation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the knife, taken through the center thereof.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a frame composed of oppositely-disposed pieces of suitable material,which are secured together and provided with a back spring 2 and a knife-blade 3. The edges of the pieces composing the frame l on their back portions are formed with oppositely-disposed recesses 4, preferably curved, and the back spring 2 is in like manner bent or depressed at the point of passage around the recesses 4c and slotted to permit a portion of the cutting edge of the knife-blade 3 to project therethrough and be exposed for engagement with devices which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The one end of the frame 1, at about the central portion thereof, has the opposite parts constructed with grooves 5, with outer beveled faces to form a crimping-recess and the exposed edges, which, in combination with mechanism coacting therewith, will form a crimp in a cap in attaching the latter to a fuse. Below or to one side of the grooves 5 the curved end 6 of a crimping-head 7 is pivotally attached to the frame 1, and the said head has formed therein a double-edged crimping concaved recess 8, which alines with the edges formed in the grooves 5 to insure a proper crimping action at two points on the cap, which is applied to the fuse and operated upon by the said device. The interior surface of the said head 7 conforms to the contour of the end of the frame l at this point, so that it can be closely folded thereagainst, and continuing from the said head is a shank 9, having a borer or seater 10 at its free end, and adjacent to said borer or seater on the under side is a bifurcated lug or shoulder 1l, forming oppositely-disposed pressing-arms 12, with concaved faces 13. The said bifurcated lug is adapted to enter the recesses 4 and force the fuse down against the exposed portion of the cutting edge of the knife-blade in the cutting operation, and when the said shank is depressed to attain the result stated the exposed portion of the knife-blade passes up into the bifurcation of the said lug and permits the fuse to be entirely severed without tearing, but with a clean cut.

The borer or seater lO is adapted to be used, as will be readily understood, and the entire shank may be turned outwardly through its pivotal connection in a plane parallel with the frame of the knife, the several parts being constructed to permit this arrangement.

The end of the frame 1, opposite to that to which the crimping-head 7 and the shank 9 are pivoted, is formed with hand-guards 14 of a suitable width, which may be provided by a proper formation. at this point and aord greater strength and stiffness in the folding of the blade within the frame, as well as serving as a guard for the hand. The said guards are spaced apart and form a seat for a catch-spring 14', which engages the borer or seater 10 when the shank 9 is closed down against the back of the frame 1 to render the device compact when not in use, the said catch-spring being of such strength as to avoid a disengagement of the borer or seater and the shank 9, which carries the same.

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v provides a convenient cutter Without necessitating the employment of any additional cutting device for the purposes stated. It will also be understood that the recesses 4 and the concaved portions 13 of the bifurcated lug Will be constructed as to their curvature to just embrace the fuse Which is placed therein and engaged thereby. The extreme end of the shank forming the borer or seater is made slightly larger than a dynamite cap in diameter and is rounded or cylindrical in form for a distance equal to the length of such cap for the purpose of forcing a hole into a dynamite cartridge to receive said cap and fuse.

Other advantages will appear from time to.

time to those using this device aside from those which have been enumerated, and it is obvlously apparent that many changes in the minor details of construction might be made and substituted for those shown and described Without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new isl. In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having recesses therein, a knife-blade movably mounted in said frame and adapted to have a portion of its cutting edge exposed through said recesses, and a movable pressure device en gaging the said frame exteriorly thereof and coacting with the said exposed portion of the knife-blade for the purpose of cutting a fuse, substantially as described.

2. In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having recesses therein, a knife-blade in coaction with said frame having a portion thereof exposed by said recesses, a shank carrying a bifurcated lug and engaging said recesses and knifeblade for the purpose of cutting a fuse, and a back spring as specified, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having recesses therein, a blade mounted in said frame and having a portion thereof exposed by said recesses, a shank pivotally attached to said frame and having a bifurcated lug coacting with said recesses for the purpose of cutting a fuse, means for holding the said shank close against the back of the knife, and a depressed and slotted back spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified. y

4L. In a miners knife of the character set forth,the combination of a knife-frame having end grooves formingdouble crimping edges and recesses in the back thereof, a shank continuous from the crimping-head, the latter having crimping edges to coact With the edges formed by the grooves in the end of the knife, and the said shank being also provided With a bifurcated lug to engage the recesses in the back of the knife frame, a blade mounted in the said frame and having a portion thereof exposed by said recesses, means for holding the said shank close against the knife-back, and a back spring, substantially as described.

5 In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having grooves at one end thereof forming and exposing double edges, and a crimping-head coacting With said grooves having double edges and carried by a shank adapted to be locked against the back of the frame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination With a frame having recesses therein and provided With a cuttingblade Which has a cutting edge exposed through the said recesses When closed into the frame, of a shank pivotally connected to the frame at one end and provided with pressing-arms to aline with the said recesses, and a back spring also having a slot depressed therein, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a miners knife of the character set forth, the combination with a frame,of a blade mounted therein, said frame being formed with recesses at the back thereof and grooves at one end, a crimping-head pivotally attached to said knife-frame and having crimping edges coacting with the grooves in the end thereof and provided with a shank having a bifurcated lug operating in connection With the recesses in the back of the frame and also With a borer and seater at the free end, means for holding the said shank close against the back of the knife, and a back spring having a slot and depression therein, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM ALBERT CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

H. V. FEE, l. J. BAKER.

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